HEALTH Minister Kim Hames visited Pinjarra Doctors recently, to discuss the shortage of doctors leaving patients waiting up to three weeks to get an appointment.
Minister Hames discussed various alternatives and is willing to represent Pinjarra Doctors in their request to get Federal Government approval for further provider numbers, making it possible to employ more internationally trained doctors.
Pinjarra Doctors has a patient base of about 10,800 patients but only have three full time doctors available to provide a health care service.
As a temporary solution the facility has resolved to taking on registrars that are expected to rotate around every six months to different practices.
“Besides the mentorship slowing down the supervisor’s patient list, it is not good for ongoing patient care if they have to see a new doctor every six months,” a Pinjarra Doctors spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said it was almost impossible to provide a decent health service to patients, in particular for the high demand of female doctors.
“Pinjarra is not zoned an area of District Workforce Shortage, whereby it is possible to employ any overseas trained doctor to help us provide a reasonable ongoing service to our patients,” the spokespersons said.
“According to Federal law there are adequate GPs in the area to meet the health needs of the population.
“However to add to the difficulty we also see 1700 patients that come from areas of District Workforce Shortage, which would be at liberty to employ an overseas trained doctor any time, should those patients be treated in that geographical zone.”